Belfast

Today we headed to Belfast.  We had trepidation at first after having heard about all “The Troubles” in Ireland in the 60s, 70s and 80s.  So first we headed to the Titanic Experience museum.  The place is huge.


It goes through the early 1800s of Belfast and into shipbuilding as huge employer.  Then into the engineering and building of the Titanic.  Of course next was the launch of Titanic, and the disaster, then the aftermath.  So quite an interesting exhibition.

We then decided to catch a cab into the middle of Belfast as we didn’t really want to drive there.  We were able to leave our cars in the underground parking garage while a cabbie took us to town.  He was terrific and after telling him our destination, we asked him where one of the best pubs would be.  He took us to The Crown, one of the oldest in Belfast.  It was beautiful!  Floor to ceiling.



It even had these little spots called a “snug” where upper class ladies came to drink in the pub without having others see them.  We didn’t care who saw us, really, so we didn’t close the door.


Next we headed over to City Hall where we would meet our cab tour guy.  

We saw this sign, which I thought was, well, odd.


This is City Hall.


And on the fence was posted a notice about signing the book of condolences for the Queen.  So we did.


We then got into the Black Cab Tour with Isaac, our guide.  He took us to where The Troubles were bubbling over.  It started with William III (of Orange) way, way back.  He’s in the mural.  Of course, this is on the Protestant side of the neighbourhood.

We stopped in this one spot.  These guns, no matter where you were standing, were pointing at you.  Even where Gerard was standing with Isaac in this photo.  Incredible artwork.


This is the wall between the Protestant and the Catholic side.  It’s incredible the size of this wall.  Houses built near the wall also have protection from “invaders”.  


And we ended with visiting the mural of Bobby Sands.  He was an IRA member who died in prison of starvation at the age of 27 because of a Hunger Strike.  Every hero on one side is a terrorist on the other side.

At the end, Isaac took us back to our cars and we headed back to Ballycastle.  We then went out to the Diamond Pub for dinner in Ballycastle, our last night here.


Tomorrow we’re off to the Republic!









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